Improvement in loop-catches for sewing-machines



L. P. COLLINS. Sewing Machine.

Patented Nov. 4 13, 1 860 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN I COLLINS, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOOP-CATCHES FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 30,6l5, dated November13, 1860.

To on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LYMAN P. CoLLINs, of Sacramento, in the county ofSacramento and State of California, have invented a certain new andImproved Metallic Loop-Catch for Sewing-Machines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and-exact description of theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 represents the loop-catch as applied to the rotary hook orshuttle of a sewing-ma- OhIl16. Fig. 2 represents a perspective View ofthe loop-catch in one of its positions and as detached from the partwith which it is to work.

Similar letters of reference where they occur refer to like parts of thedevice in both figures.

I am aware that many loop-catchers have been devised, most of which areelastic or yielding, and that metal, glass, ivory, bristles bone, andwood have been suggested as the material which is to bear against therotary hook or shuttle. Of those that yield or are elastic none answerthe purpose, for athick or thin spot in the thread either hangs or slipsthrough and throws out the stitch. Of those that bear against the rotaryhook or shuttle the friction is objectionable, as it prevents said hookor shuttle from running at that free and uniform speed that will insureits taking and delivering the loop at the exact time, without whichprecise action the forming of the loop is uncertain.

My invention consists in a loop-catch which is adjustable butnon-elastic, and which may be set up within a line of the shuttle orhook without touching it, and past which the finest thread cannot passuntil the exact part of the shuttle or hook comes around to where it isto be released to be drawn up into the stitch.

A loop-catch very much resembling mine in appearance has been devised;but it is operated by a spring, which either causes it to bear againstthe hook or shuttle or else allows the thread to slip past it; andsometimes when a thick part of the thread gets in between it and thehook, it will break the thread, and is thercfore unreliable andobjectionable.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and immovably in the hubafter the point of the screw is properly adjustedthat is, brought up towithin a line of the shuttle or hook without actually touching it, or sothat the finest thread cannot pass between it and the shuttle, therebypreventing friction and wear of the parts, also dispensing with the useof oil on the periphery of the rotary hook around which thethreadpasses; yet the said nib or catch is set in such close proximityto the hook that it will catch and retain, until the proper time for itsrelease, a loop of the finest cotton or silk used by the sewing-machine,so that when the nib or catch is once set for the finest cotton it doesnot require any further care or attention to keep it improper order forany kind of work done with the machine.

I do not confine myself to supporting the loop-catcher by its foot, asin Fig. 1, asthe sup port may be obtained in the manner of the pads usedon the Wheeler 85 VVilsonmachines, as by a slot and screw, and in otherways.

I claim- A metallic or other hard loop-catcher for sewing-machines,composed of a hub or main nut, a, in Figs. 1 and 2, also anadjustingscrew, 6, also check-nutf, also nib or catch 2, so that thecatch, being hard and unyielding, against which the loop comes incontact, can be so adjusted by the screw c, and firmly held by means ofcheck-nut f that the finest thread cannot pass between said catch andthe rotary hook until the proper time for its release, the whole beingconstructed, arranged, and operating as herein set forth and explained.

LYMAN I. COLLINS.

\Vi tncsses E. S. Foce, ELI BAKER.

